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Perhaps you are simply looking to update a small room or two. Or maybe you are in the market for full-scale redesign of your home’s entire design. Either way, one thing is for sure: As the sluggish real estate market lingers in lockstep with the stumbling economy, home renovations are on the rise. Many construction companies that are normally busy mass-producing homes now find themselves finishing basements, revamping bathrooms and updating kitchens. At least for the time-being, experts tell us, that’s where the business is. So if your home-improvement options were narrowed to just one or two remodeling projects, how would you go about it? Do-it- yourselfers have an obvious answer, but for the rest of us, there will be some serious questions: • Does this room really need an update? • Am I sure about the cost? Will it benefit the value of the home? • Are there specialists who can tackle the needs of a specific room or part of the home’s interior? • Will it be worth the investment of time? • Do I really even know what I want? The last question might be the most per- tinent. At the very least, it is probably the best place to start. Tune Up Your Kitchen Since it’s one of the most used areas in the home, it only makes sense that the kitchen be on your short list of potential renovation projects. And it just so happens that there is a franchise company that specializes in such endeavors. It’s aptly named Kitchen Tuneup. Like with other rooms in the house, you don’t have to buy a whole new kitchen to have a kitchen that looks and feels like new. Do your kitchen cabinets look a little tired? You might think you have to replace them. Maybe not. Kitchen Tune-Up’s wood reconditioning process can restore them to approximately 90-95 percent new, and they can make it happen in about one day. You can also change the style and color of your cabinets without replacing them. Cabinet re-facing makes it possible in just two to four days. First, they replace your existing doors with new ones that are cus- tom designed for your kitchen. Then they cover your existing end panels with ply- wood and cover the frames with real wood veneer. This company can also accommodate much grander requests, of course. Want new cabinets? Or a whole new kitchen? The Kitchen Tune-Up design process makes it easy. Local franchise reps visit your home, help you choose cabinets (and everything else you need to create the kitchen you want) and then they’ll just make it happen. It’s not free, by any means. But it is definite- ly simple—and actually quite affordable. Whether they actually tune up, reface or replace your kitchen cabinets, they also have a full plate of kitchen design ideas to accent any space. (For example, crown molding and under-cabinet lighting add beauty and drama. Pull-out garbage bins and other smart accessories reduce clut- ter and add functionality. Glass doors or brushed metal hardware can give your kitchen a contemporary feel.) The local franchise owner in Idaho Falls is Jim Miller, who was chosen last February for the company’s Project of the Month award. You can reach him at 528-0000 or jmiller@kitchentuneup.com. IDAHOFALLSMAGAZINE.COM | 37